— Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh congratulates blood donors & civil society organisations; calls for making voluntary blood donation a continuous people’s movement
— Over 5.44 lakh units collected across the state in 2025–26; 92% of blood collection overall and 99.6% in Government Blood Centres was voluntary
CHANDIGARH, October 2:
Punjab has brought laurels to the state by securing the third position across the nation in voluntary blood donation per million population, based on blood donation data recorded on the Union Government’s e-RaktKosh portal for the calendar year 2025.
Congratulating the people of Punjab, voluntary blood donors, non-governmental organisations, and healthcare professionals, Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh termed this prestigious national recognition as a testament to the selfless spirit and compassion of Punjabis.
The state was officially felicitated during the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day (NVBDD) 2026 programme held at the Swarn Jayanti Auditorium, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. The event was graced by Dr M. Srinivas, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, as Chief Guest, along with Dr Loveneesh G. Krishna, Director General of Health Services, and Dr Himani Ahluwalia, Director, LHMC.
Highlighting the state’s exemplary performance, Dr Balbir Singh shared that during 2025–26, a total of 5,44,167 units of blood were collected across Punjab through 6,583 blood donation camps organised with extensive community support. Reflecting the strong culture of voluntary blood donation in the state, 92 per cent of the total blood collection was voluntary, while the contribution in Government Blood Centres was an impressive 99.6 per cent voluntary.
“Blood donation is one of the noblest forms of service to humanity. Every single unit donated voluntarily becomes a lifeline for a patient in critical care. This national honour belongs first and foremost to our noble voluntary blood donors whose unwavering generosity powers our healthcare ecosystem,” said Dr Balbir Singh.
The Health Minister lauded the dedicated efforts of the Punjab State Blood Transfusion Council (PSBTC), Punjab State AIDS Control Society (PSACS), government and private blood centres, NGOs, educational institutions, and other stakeholders for driving mass awareness. He placed special appreciation on youth and student volunteers, noting that their active participation is pivotal to building a vibrant, sustainable donor repository for the future.
Reiterating the commitment of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government, Dr Balbir Singh asserted that the state will continue expanding blood transfusion infrastructure, ensuring round-the-clock availability of safe blood and components, and maintaining 100 per cent voluntary blood donation coverage so that no patient is left in distress.
Making an impassioned appeal to all healthy and eligible citizens, especially youth, the Health Minister urged them to step forward regularly and turn voluntary blood donation into a mass continuous people’s movement in Punjab. “A small contribution of our time gives someone a second chance at life,” he said.
Meanwhile, Punjab was represented at the national felicitation ceremony by Dr Sunita Devi, Joint Director (BTS-cum-Lab Services, PSACS), Pankaj Kumari, Deputy Director (Lab Services, PSACS), Dr Ketki Sharma, Assistant Director (VBD, BTS, PSBTC), and Amrit Raj, Office Assistant (PSBTC), who received the prestigious award on behalf of the State.
